Warner Bros. Consumer Products and LEGO formed an alliance in July 2000 for the worldwide marketing of Harry Potter construction toys. The Harry Potter line was created in 2001 to coincide with the release of the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Sorcerer’s Stone in the USA)
Philosopher's Stone
Eleven LEGO sets were released in 2001, each corresponding to an important scene in the movie. They were given item numbers but did not run in strict consecutive order. For example the firsts sets were numbered 4701 to 4714 with numbers 4703, 4710 and 4713 missing. The scenes depicted are not in chronological order either as set 4702, ‘The Final Challenge’ features one of the last events in the story. Other sets included 4701 – The Sorting Hat; 4707 – Hagrid’s Hut and 4714 – Gringotts Bank. These sets ranged in size and price and included blocks to build the scene as well as figures to inhabit it. Three of these sets were amongst LEGO’s top 10 sellers for the year. Three more sets were released in 2002 and numbered from 4721 to 4723 including the popular, ‘Diagon Alley Shops’.
Chamber of Secrets
When the second film was released in 2002 ten more sets, based on that movie were issued. Numbered from 4719 to 4735 these included 4720 – Knockturn Alley, 4727 – Aragog in the Dark Forest and 47333 – The Dueling Club. A number of new characters accompanied these sets such as Gilderoy Lockhart and Ginny Weasley.
Prisoner of Azkaban
In keeping with LEGO’s change from yellow toned figures to flesh toned for real people or characters, the Harry Potter figures adopted more realistic flesh colours. Twelve sets were issued to coincide with the 2005 release of the third film numbered from 4695 for the first and only Harry Potter Mini set Knight Bus to 4758 – Encounter on the Train. Another first and only was 10132 – Motorized Hogwarts Express.
Goblet of Fire
The four sets released for the fourth film were a disappointment to LEGO collectors as it meant that many of the key scenes and characters (notably Cedric Diggory and Fleur Delacour) were absent. These sets numbered from 4762 – Rescue from the Merpeople to 4768 – The Durmstrang Ship.
Order of the Phoenix
Only one set was released with the fifth film in 2007 and though it included the fantastically detailed Hogwarts Castle (5378) and many new characters including thestrals, it still fell far short of LEGO collector’s expectations for providing more scenes. This was the third Hogwarts Castle in the series the others being released in 2001 and 2004.
Future Releases
LEGO had announced in 2004 that it was cutting back on sets “based on big, movie-related IP’s such as Harry Potter.” Though they were quick to add "This does not mean that the company will exclude that kind of stories and themes, but just that the growth should be based on the fundamental products…” How that effected the release of new Harry Potter sets was obvious over the next few years when only five sets were released compared to thirty-six since 2001. It does not bode well for the future of Harry Potter LEGO.
Market Values
As with every collectible, prices vary according to supply and demand. Harry Potter collectibles are no different and usually go up in price whenever a new movie is released and interest and demand increases. The average price of a Harry Potter LEGO set depends upon condition, completeness and availability. The price paid usually increases considerably when the items are bought on auction sites such as eBay and shipping costs have to be figured in.
As a general rule of thumb the sets can be divided into three categories, small, average and large sets. The small sets usually contain fewer than 50 pieces and include one or two figures, the large sets would include the trains and castles, and the rest would be in the average category. As a general rule of thumb: small sets range from $5 to $10; average sets from $10 to $50 and large sets from $50 to $300. The price range includes used sets to sealed MIB (mint in box) sets.
Bibliography
All Things Harry Potter – William Silvester - Krause Publications – to be published 2010
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
